Uzbekistan Qualifies for 2026 World Cup
Photo: Instagram.com/uzbekistanfa
Uzbekistan’s national football team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — making history as the first nation from Central Asia to do so since gaining independence, Orda.kz reports.
A 0–0 draw against the UAE on June 5 in Abu Dhabi secured Uzbekistan second place in Group A of the Asian qualifiers, guaranteeing direct entry with 18 points. Iran tops the group with 20 points; both teams have qualified.
Led by Timur Kapadze, who took over shortly before the final two matches, Uzbekistan had a strong campaign, losing just once in 12 qualifiers.
This is Uzbekistan’s first World Cup appearance after eight previous unsuccessful qualification attempts since gaining independence in 1991. The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams.
Uzbekistan is the eighth Asian nation to qualify, joining hosts USA, Canada, and Mexico, as well as Japan, Argentina, New Zealand, and Iran.
Several Uzbekistan players currently play in Europe — including Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Eldor Shomurodov (AS Roma), and Fayzullaev (CSKA Moscow).
Original Author: Ruslan Loginov
Latest news
- Almaty Metro To Replace Korean-Controlled System After Technical Failures
- Fewer Kazakhstanis Work Outside Their Home Regions
- Safety Violations Cited As Possible Cause Of Kazzinc Plant Explosion
- Tenge Weakens Five Percent In May As National Bank Reports No Interventions
- New Direct Flights From Kazakhstan To Warsaw, Izmir, And Larnaca
- Kazakhstan Clarifies Position On Possible Iranian Uranium Storage
- EU Politicians Eye Kazakhstan And Uzbekistan As Possible Sites For Migrant Return Centers
- Kazakhstanis Are Leaving The Regions For Megacities
- Kazakhstan Could Store Iranian Uranium If US-Iran Nuclear Deal Is Reached
- Kazakhstan’s EV Boom Is Here. Is The Grid Ready?
- Cyprus President To Make First Official Visit To Kazakhstan
- Kazakh Investors May Gain Remote Access To Armenian Stock Market
- Call Center In Ukraine Scammed Kazakhstanis By Posing As Banks And Police
- Kazakhstan Marks Day Of Remembrance For Victims Of Political Repression And Famine
- Kazakhstan Considers Molecular Markers To Track Fuel Supply Chains
- Tengiz Oil Production Gradually Restored After Operational Failure
- Tokayev Meets Cuban Vice President To Discuss AI And Medicine
- Karaganda Zoo Shows Newborn Amur Tiger Cubs For The First Time
- Putin and Tokayev Consolidate New Format of Relations, Political Analyst Says
- Kazakhstan Releases Prices For All Non-Prescription Medicines
